Disc changer

ABSTRACT

A conventional disc changer uses separate elevating cams, separate connection mechanisms, and separate locking mechanisms to effect driving of the elevation and lowering of spindles constituting a disc holding means and of a disc clamp means at a recording/playing position. Thus, the apparatus is complicated and large, and loads on the elevating cams significantly vary when the drivings of the elevating and lowering of the spindles constituting the disc holding means and the disc clamp means are simultaneously carried out. Consequently, during the elevating driving, the driving force may become insufficient to cause unstable operations, while during the lowering driving, high operating noise may occur. According to the present invention, an elevating means for elevating and lowering the spindles constituting the disc holding means and a disc playing means is configured so that a single part simultaneously performs these operations. Since the same part is driven to perform these operations, elevating and lowering timings for the spindles and the disc playing means can be easily matched to enable the elevation and lowering without changes in the gap between a played disc being elevated or lowered and held discs in a housing section, thereby preventing the discs being elevated or lowered from contacting with each other.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a disc changer in which aplurality of discs are installed to select any one of the discs forrecording/playing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In a conventional disc changer, a disc holding means isconfigured to house a plurality of subtrays in a stocker having aplurality of shelves, and a vertical driving means for selecting theposition of an arbitrary disc is configured to drive all of the stocker,the plurality of subtrays, and the plurality of discs in the verticaldirection.

[0003] In the conventional disc changer, however, while the verticaldriving means for driving a disc holding means to select an arbitrarydisc position is effecting driving, the large weight of the stockerhaving the plurality of shelves and the disc holding means for drivingall of the plurality of subtrays and discs may cause a vertical drivingmotor to consume a large amount of energy or cause falling of finisheddiscs or inappropriate vibration. In addition, the large number of partsincreases costs.

[0004] Then, a recently contemplated disc changer comprises a discholding means 204 for detachably supporting a plurality of spacers 203on a pair of spindles 201 and 202 using a holding claw 200, a verticaldriving means 205 for driving the spacers 203 in the vertical directionto select arbitrary positions of a plurality of discs 223 and 224 heldby the plurality of spacers 203, a spindle driving means 206 for drivingthe holding claw 200 to engage and disengage the plurality of spacers203 with and from the upper spindle 201, a horizontal transfer means 207for transferring discs 223 and 224 to a recording/playing position Efrom arbitrary spacers 203 held by the holding claw 200, whilesupporting the discs on subtrays 225, and a disc clamp means 208 forclamping the discs 223 and 224 at the recording/playing position E, forexample, as shown in FIGS. 43 to 45.

[0005] The disc changer of this configuration can drive in the verticaldirection the plurality of spacers 203 and plurality of discs 223 and224 installed on both spindles 201 and 202 to shift the arbitrary disc223 or 224 from the spindle 201 or 202 to the recording/playing positionE, then to an unloading position G, and back to a housing position F onthe spindle 201 or 202, and can select the arbitrary disc 223 or 224 forrecording/playing. Thereby, this configuration eliminates the needs fora stocker having a plurality of shelves or a plurality of subtrays toreduce the weight and costs, and provides a disc changer havingexcellent housing and operating capabilities.

[0006] In this disc changer, however, separate elevating cams 209 and210, connecting mechanisms 211 and 212 and lock means 213 and 214 wereused to execute driving including the elevation and lowering of the discholding means 204 using the spindles and the elevation and lowering ofthe disc clamp means 208 to clamp the discs 223 and 224 at therecording/playing position E. Consequently, the apparatus wascomplicated and loads of the elevating cams 209 and 210 enormouslyvaried when the spindles 202 of the disc holding means 204 and the discclamp means 208 were simultaneously driven to elevate and lower,respectively, resulting in problems such as an unstable operation duringthe elevating driving caused by an insufficient driving force and a highoperation noise during the lowering driving.

[0007] Furthermore, since a horizontal transfer means 207 fortransferring a tray 215 depended on driving based on the engagementbetween a single driving gear 216 and racks 217 and 218 provided foreach part, the driving was carried out at a single reduction gear ratioto preclude the reduction gear ratio from being adjusted to account foroperation loads, thereby preventing requirements for both the operationtime and load margin from being met.

[0008] Furthermore, due to the independency between a vertical drivingsystem for driving in the vertical direction the spacers 203 holding thediscs 223 and 224 and a horizontal driving system for driving theelevation and lowering of the spindle and transferring the tray 215,separate driving sources had to be provided for these systems, andintermediate gears were also required. As a result, the number ofrequired parts was increased to increase the size and costs of theapparatus.

[0009] Moreover, in order to compactify the changer, an attempt was madeto reduce the distance between the recording/playing position E and thedisc holding position F so that the disc 224 at the recording/playingposition E appeared to partly overlap the disc 224 at the disc holdingsection as seen from above. Due to vibration, however, the disc housedadjacent to the disc 224 under recording/playing at the disc holdingsection contacted the disc 224 under recording/playing to cause anaccidental track shift or to damage the disc.

[0010] Furthermore, in order to integrate the independent drivingsources into a single common source, an attempt was made to allow partof the gear train to be shared by both the driving system for thevertical driving of the spacers 203 and the horizontal driving systemand to use a gear that slided in the axial direction to select theengaged driving system, as a means for switching the driving. When,however, the gear sliding in the axial direction started to engage withthe gear of the driving system upon driving switching, it was blockedand failed to effect switching, causing the apparatus to stop with anabnormal noise.

[0011] Moreover, the disc clamp means 208 was elevated from and loweredto the recording/playing position E by engaging a lateral pair of pins221 on a disc playing means 220 with cam grooves 219 formed in right andleft elevating cams 210. In this case, during elevation and lowering,the disc playing means 220 might be rotationally moved via the pins 221.If two left pins and one right pin were used instead of the lateral pairof pins 221 to solve this problem, the stroke of the right and leftelevating cams 210 increased, resulting in another new problem that sizeof the apparatus increased.

[0012] Furthermore, when the tray 215 was opened to change the disc, adisc of a small diameter 223 such as 8 cm might accidentally fall intothe apparatus due to a large opening 222 in the front surface of theapparatus.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0013] It is an object of this invention to provide a small disc changerof a simple configuration that can avoid operation noise or unstableoperations due to the variation of operation loads, that enables a discplaying means to be elevated and lowered with its posture maintained inthe horizontal direction, and that can prevent a disc from accidentallyfalling into the apparatus when a tray is opened.

[0014] To achieve this object, a disc changer according to thisinvention comprises an apparatus body, a disc transfer means fortransferring a disc in the apparatus body between a disc housingposition and a disc playing position, and a vertical pair of spindlesdetachably holding a plurality of spacers at the disc housing position,and comprises a disc holding means capable of relatively elevating andlowering the spindles and driving the spacers in the vertical directionto deliver the disc to the disc transfer means, a disc playing meanssupported on the apparatus body at the disc playing position so as to beable to elevate and lower, an elevating means for elevating and loweringthe spindles and the disc playing means, and a horizontal driving meanscapable of driving the disc transfer means and the elevating means,wherein the elevating means is configured so that a single partsimultaneously effects the driving of the spindles and the disc playingmeans.

[0015] This invention can drive in the vertical direction the pluralityof spacers and plurality of discs installed on both spindles to shiftthe arbitrary disc from the spindle to a disc playing position, then toan unloading position, and back to a disc housing position on thespindle, and can select the arbitrary disc for recording/playing. Thisconfiguration eliminates the needs for a stocker having a plurality ofshelves or a plurality of subtrays to reduce the weight and costs, andprovides a disc changer having excellent housing and operatingcapabilities.

[0016] Besides, the same part is used to drive the elevation andlowering of the spindles of the disc holding means and the disc playingmeans to allow the elevation and lowering timings for both components tocoincide easily in order to enable elevation and lowering without achange in the gap between a played disc being elevated or lowered and aheld disc in the housing section, thereby preventing discs fromcontacting each other during elevation or lowering.

[0017] One embodiment of this invention is configured so that a platehaving a cam groove drives the elevation and lowering of the spindles ofthe disc holding means and the disc playing means.

[0018] According to this embodiment, the spindles and the disc playingmeans can be elevated and lowered using a simple configuration in such away as to maintain coincident timings.

[0019] Another embodiment of this invention uses in part of theelevating means for the spindles and the disc playing means, a cam gearconnected to a lateral pair of plates via an intermediate gear to rotatein synchronism with the movement of the plates.

[0020] Even if the pitch between the pins provided in the lateraldirection relative to the disc playing means is different from thewidth-wise pitch of the pins provided in the lateral direction relativeto a elevating base for the spindles, this embodiment enables elevationand lowering using the simple configuration without a change in such away as to maintain coincident timings for both components.

[0021] In addition, according to the disc changer of this invention, thehorizontal driving means is composed of a driving gear connected to thedriving source via a speed reduction mechanism, a driving rack meshingwith the driving gear, and a speed-increasing gear rotatably supportedon the driving rack. The speed-increasing gear is a double-gear unitcomposed of a larger and a smaller gears having the same number of teethand different modules, and the smaller gear engages with a rack providedin the elevating means, while the larger gear engages with a rackprovided in the disc transfer means.

[0022] According to this invention, by freely selecting the module, thatis, the pitch diameter between the larger and smaller gears having thesame number of teeth, the driving of the tray and the driving of theelevating means for the spindle and the disc playing means, the twodriving types involving significantly different operation loads, can befreely set so that a driving force transmitted from the common drivingsource is suitable for the loads on the tray and the elevating means andthe required speeds.

[0023] Furthermore, the disc changer according to this inventioncomprises a switching gear connected to the driving source via the speedreduction mechanism and supported so as to slide in the axial directionand that can selectively mesh with either a gear train provided in thehorizontal driving means or a gear train provided in the verticaldriving system for the spacers; and a drive-switching means for allowingthe switching gear to slide in the axial direction, and has a switchingmode that includes at least the rotational driving, stop, and reversedriving of the switching gear and that is available during the slidingof the switching gear effected by the drive-switching means.

[0024] According to this invention, the switching gear switching betweenthe two driving systems meshes with the gear train in one of the drivingsystems while carrying out a small number of repetitions of rotations,stoppages, and reverse rotations, thereby preventing the tooth tips frommutually abutting to obstruct the sliding of the switching gear. Thisconfiguration enables the sharing of the driving source and the partialsharing of the driving systems to reduce the number of required partsand thus the size of the apparatus.

[0025] One embodiment of this invention uses in part of the common speedreduction mechanism, an elastic belt each end of which is passed aroundeach of a pair of pulleys.

[0026] When the elastic belt is used in part of the speed reductionmechanism according to this embodiment, the lateral pressure of the beltremains in the driving system after driving is stopped, therebyincreasing loads effected when the switching gear is disengaged from theteeth of the driving system to which the switching gear has beenconnected prior to switching. Thus, the repetitions of rotations,stoppages, and reverse rotations are effective in eliminating thisadvantage.

[0027] Another embodiment of this invention provides control such thatwhen the driving is switched, the switching gear is initially rotated inthe direction opposite to the rotating direction of the driving systemto which the switching gear has been connected prior to switching, therotating direction existing immediately before the stoppage of thedriving system.

[0028] This embodiment can stop the rotation caused by driving inertiaafter the stoppage of driving to reduce the standby time from thestoppage of driving prior to switching until the switching mode isentered, thereby reducing the disc change time. In addition, in theabove configuration with the elastic belt, this embodiment isparticularly effective in reducing switching loads effected by thelateral pressure of the belt.

[0029] Furthermore, the disc changer according to this inventioncomprises a disc gap maintaining means that can advance between houseddiscs vertically adjacent to a played disc.

[0030] According to this invention, even if the disc housing and playingpositions are located closer to position the housed discs and the playeddisc in such a way that the discs appear to overlap one another in a topview, in order to compactify the apparatus, the gap maintaining meansadvances into the gap between the housed discs adjacent to the playeddisc in the vertical direction to preclude the gap from being narroweddespite vibration, thereby preventing an accidental track shifts ordamage to the disc caused by the contact between the played disc and thehoused disc.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the gapmaintaining means comprises levers, so it can be simply positioned andcan stably maintain the constant gap using a simple configuration. Inaddition, since the gap maintaining means is configured to be driven bythe elevating means, it can be driven without deviating from theelevating and lowering timings for the spindles provided by theelevating means and the elevating and lowering timings for the discplaying means. The arrangement of the gap maintaining means between thedisc housing position and the disc playing position allows the gap to bemaintained close to both the disc playing and housing positions, therebyenabling accurate gap maintenance. Furthermore, sections of the disc gapmaintaining means that advance between the adjacent discs are providedat two positions approximately laterally symmetrical about the center ofthe disc to prevent the housed discs at the lateral advancing sectionfrom inclining relative to the placed disc, thereby enabling the gap tobe stably maintained despite adverse effects such as the inclination andvibration of the apparatus. Besides, if the advancing sections of thedisc gap maintaining means are composed of planes with a sharp junction,when their tips advance between the two housed discs adjacent to theplayed disc in the vertical direction, they can target a single point inthe gap between the discs to provide margins for displacements of theadvancing gap maintaining means. In addition, if the disc contactsurfaces are smooth planes, sliding loads on the end surface of the disccan be reduced to prevent the gap maintaining means from contacting thedisc end and then being caught on it.

[0032] In addition, the disc changer according to this inventioncomprises an apparatus body, a disc playing means supported on theapparatus body at the disc playing position so as to be able to elevateand lower, an elevating means for elevating and lowering the discplaying means, and a horizontality maintaining means for regulating theelevating and lowering postures of the disc playing means. The elevatingmeans comprises a lateral pair of plates supported so as to sliderelative to the apparatus body, and a connecting lever rotatablysupported on the apparatus body to connect the lateral pair of platestogether. The horizontality maintaining means comprises a rotating shaftextending in parallel with the sliding direction of the plate androtatably supported on the apparatus body, a horizontality maintaininglever that can rotate with the rotating shaft, and a engaging sectionprovided on the horizontality maintaining lever and parallel with therotating shaft. The engaging section slidably engages with an engaginggroove provided in the disc playing means to rotationally move aroundthe axis of the rotating shaft during the elevation and lowering of thedisc playing means.

[0033] According to this invention, the elevating means effects drivingto allow the right and left plates to slide in opposite directions tosynchronously elevate or lower both pins engaged with the cam groove, byan equal amount, thereby enabling the disc playing means to be elevatedand lowered. When this disc playing means elevates or lowers, theengaging section, elevates and lowers with the disc playing means due toits engagement with the engaging groove while rotationally moving thehorizontality maintaining lever with the engaging section integratedtherewith, together with the rotating shaft, thereby allowing theengaging section to rotate around the axis of the rotating shaft. Thisconfiguration can elevate and lower the disc playing means with theother movement, that is, the rotational movement of the disc playingmeans restrained by the horizontality maintaining lever with therotating shaft held in the horizontal direction, thereby enabling therotating shaft of the horizontality maintaining lever to be held in thehorizontal direction when the disc playing means elevates and lowers.

[0034] One embodiment of this invention is configured so that the discplaying means is elevated and lowered by engaging the lateral pair ofpins provided on the disc playing means with the lateral pair of camgrooves provided in the elevating means, respectively.

[0035] According to this invention, the elevating means requires onlythe single lateral pair of cam grooves, thereby reducing the slidingstroke of the elevating means and thus the size of the disc playingapparatus.

[0036] Furthermore, the disc changer according to this inventionprovides a disc playing apparatus which comprises an apparatus body, atray that can move between a first position in the apparatus body atwhich the disc can be played and a second position at which the trayprotrudes from the apparatus body so that the disc can be changed, andat least one covering means rotatably supported on the apparatus body tocover at least part of an opening formed due to the protrusion of thetray to the second position. The covering means has levers rotationallymoving in response to the movement of the tray, and having a pair ofprotruding portions arranged at positions approximately laterallysymmetrical around the center of the disc on the tray and provided at aninterval smaller than the outer diameter of a small-diameter disc. Theopposite ends of the protruding portions each have an uneven surfaceformed like saw teeth.

[0037] According to this invention, when the tray is allowed to protrudeto move from the first position to the second position, the cams on thetray automatically rotationally moves the levers so as to stand. Thus,the protruding portions integrated with both levers can cover part ofthe opening formed due to the protrusion of the tray to the secondposition. Consequently, when the disc is manually removed from the trayor changed even if the disc accidentally falls from the opening towardthe inside of the apparatus body, the end of the disc is caught betweenthe uneven surfaces formed like saw teeth in the pair of protrudingportions provided at the interval smaller than the outer diameter of thesmall-diameter disc, thereby preventing the disc from falling into theapparatus body.

[0038] One embodiment of this invention is configured so that the camsprovided on the tray rotationally move the levers during the opening andclosing of the tray.

[0039] According to this embodiment, even if the disc is pressed towardthe interior of the apparatus body while contacting the levers, thelevers are precluded from rotationally moving and falling down toprevent the disc from falling into the apparatus body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a discchanger according to one embodiment of this invention;

[0041]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the disc changer with anarmoring case removed therefrom;

[0042]FIG. 3 shows a tray base and a tray of the disc changer, FIG. 3Abeing a top view, FIG. 3B a vertical side view, and FIG. 3C a verticalsectional front view;

[0043]FIG. 4 is a top view showing the disc changer with the armoringcase removed therefrom;

[0044]FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing a disc holding meansof the disc changer wherein a lower spindle is lowering;

[0045]FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing the disc holding meansof the disc changer wherein the lower spindle is elevating;

[0046]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the disc holding means of thedisc changer, particularly the lower spindle portion;

[0047]FIG. 8 is a top view showing an elevating means of the discchanger;

[0048]FIG. 9 is a developed perspective view showing the elevating meansand a horizontal driving means of the disc changer, particularly a rackand a gear portion;

[0049]FIG. 10 is a sectional top view showing the elevating means andhorizontal driving means of the disc changer, particularly aspeed-increasing gear portion;

[0050]FIG. 11 shows the elevating means and horizontal driving means ofthe disc changer, FIG. 11A being a side view showing a play state andFIG. 11B being a side view showing a lower-spindle lowering state;

[0051]FIG. 12 shows the elevating means and horizontal driving means ofthe disc changer, FIG. 12A being a side view showing a tray rear stateand FIG. 12B being a side view showing a stock state;

[0052]FIG. 13 is a side view showing the elevating means and horizontaldriving means of the disc changer in a change state;

[0053]FIG. 14 shows the elevating means and horizontal driving means ofthe disc changer, FIG. 14A being a side view showing a closed state andFIG. 14B being a side view showing an open state;

[0054]FIG. 15 is a top view showing the elevating means and horizontaldriving means of the disc changer, particularly a stopper portion;

[0055]FIG. 16 shows the horizontal driving means of the disc changer andthe arrangement of switches, FIG. 16A being a side view showing the playstate, FIG. 16B a side view showing the change state, and FIG. 16C aside view showing the stock state;

[0056]FIG. 17 is a top view showing a horizontality maintaining means ofthe disc changer in a disc playing lowering state;

[0057]FIG. 18 is a side view showing the horizontality maintaining meansof the disc changer in the disc playing lowering state;

[0058]FIG. 19 is a front view showing the horizontality maintainingmeans of the disc changer in the disc playing lowering state;

[0059]FIG. 20 is a top view showing the horizontality maintaining meansof the disc changer in a disc playing elevating state;

[0060]FIG. 21 is a side view showing the horizontality maintaining meansof the disc changer in the disc playing elevating state;

[0061]FIG. 22 is a front view showing the horizontality maintainingmeans of the disc changer and showing the disc playing elevating state;

[0062]FIG. 23 is a top view showing the horizontal driving means of thedisc changer;

[0063]FIG. 24 shows the horizontal driving means of the disc changer,FIG. 24A being a developed side view showing switching to the discholding means and FIG. 24B being a developed side view showing switchingto the horizontal driving means;

[0064]FIG. 25 is a top view showing a gap maintaining means of the discchanger;

[0065]FIG. 26 is a side view showing the gap maintaining means of thedisc changer in an off state;

[0066]FIG. 27 is a side view showing the gap maintaining means of thedisc changer in an on state;

[0067]FIG. 28 is a top view showing a covering means of the disc changerin a play state;

[0068]FIG. 29 is a side view showing the covering means of the discchanger in the play state;

[0069]FIG. 30 is a side view showing the covering means of the discchanger wherein the play state is being switched to the open state;

[0070]FIG. 31 is a top view showing the covering means of the discchanger in the open state;

[0071]FIG. 32 is a side view showing the covering means of the discchanger in the open state;

[0072]FIG. 33 is a front view showing the covering means of the discchanger in the open state;

[0073]FIG. 34 is a top view showing a disc change operation of the discchanger in the play state;

[0074]FIG. 35 is a side view showing a disc change operation of the discchanger in the play state;

[0075]FIG. 36 is a side view showing the disc change operation of thedisc changer wherein the lower spindle has lowered and wherein the trayis located at a front position;

[0076]FIG. 37 is a side view showing the disc change operation of thedisc changer wherein the lower spindle has lowered and wherein the trayis located at the rear position;

[0077]FIG. 38 is a side view showing the disc change operation of thedisc changer and showing the disc stock state;

[0078]FIG. 39 is a side view showing the disc change operation of thedisc changer in a disc change state;

[0079]FIG. 40 is an exploded perspective view of the disc changer;

[0080]FIG. 41 is a timing chart showing each mode switching of the discchanger;

[0081]FIG. 42 is a timing chart for each section of the disc changer;

[0082]FIG. 43 is a perspective view showing a disc changer according toa conventional improved example with an armoring case removed therefrom;

[0083]FIG. 44 is a top view showing the disc changer with the armoringcase removed therefrom; and

[0084]FIG. 45 is a side view of a disc holding means of the discchanger.

EMBODIMENT

[0085] A disc changer that is an example of an embodiment of thisinvention will be described below.

[0086] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a large-diameter disc ofdiameter 12 cm and 2 is a small-diameter disc of diameter 8 cm. A frontpanel 10 is attached to a bottom plate body 11, and No. keys 12, an openand close key 13, and a play key 14, and a stop key 15 are provided onthe front surface of the front panel 10. Reference numeral 16 is anarmoring case for covering a disc changer 19, and 17 is an insulatorprovided on the bottom plate body 11. Reference numeral 22 designates atray base protruding from an opening 10 a of the front panel 10.Reference numeral 23 denotes a tray that is guide by the tray base 22 toslide in a direction W-X shown by the arrow in the figure and that has achanged disc 1 or 2 supplied thereon.

[0087] In FIGS. 2, 4, 33, and 34, an apparatus body 20 is composed of abottom plate 20A, a right and a left side plates 20B, and a rear plate20C. Inside the apparatus body 20, a disc housing position A is formedon the rear plate 20C side, while a disc playing position B is formed onthe front surface side. A distance L between the center of the disc 1 or2 housed at the disc housing position A and the center of the disc 1 or2 played at the disc playing position B is set larger than 10 cm (theradius of the large-diameter disc 1+ the radius of the small-diameterdisc 2) and smaller than 12 cm (the diameter of the large-diameter disc1).

[0088] This configuration can reduce the distance between the dischousing position A and the disc playing position B to allow the housedlarge-diameter disc 1 and the played large-diameter disc 1 to overlapeach other in a top view, thereby compactifying the apparatus. Inaddition, the housed large-diameter disc 1 and the played small-diameterdisc 2 or the housed small-diameter disc 2 and the played large-diameterdisc 1 are located so as not to overlap each other in a top view.

[0089] Next, the configuration of a disc transfer means will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0090] That is, the disc transfer means 21 is provided in the apparatusbody 20 to transfer the disc 1 or 2 between the disc housing position Aand the disc playing position B. The disc transfer means 21 is composedof a tray base 22 guided by the side plates 20B of the apparatus body 20to slide in the direction shown by the arrows W-X, (longitudinaldirection) a tray 23 guided by the tray 22 to slide in the directionshown by the arrows W-X, and a carrier 27 supported and guided by thetray base 22 side to slide in the direction shown by the arrows W-X. Thetray base 22 slides in the direction shown by the arrow W (forward) toprotrude from the opening 10 a formed in the front panel 10.

[0091] A 12-cm-disc placement section 24 and an 8-cm-disc placementsection 25 are formed in the top-surface side of the tray 23. To reducethe height of spacers (described below) of a disc holding means toreduce the thickness of the disc changer 19, the 12-cm-disc placementsection 24 is formed slightly above the 8-cm-disc placement section 25.

[0092] The carrier 27 is provided on the rear surface of the right ofthe tray base 22, is shaped like a linear material, and has a rack 28formed on its outer side. An engaging locking hole 29 extending in thevertical direction is formed in a predetermined position of the carrier27 so that an engaging locking pin 26 from the tray 23 is engaginglylocked in the engaging locking hole 29.

[0093] These components 22 to 29 constitute an example of the disctransfer means 21. According to the disc transfer means 21, frontwardand backward driving executed by a horizontal driving means (describedbelow) moves the carrier 27 forward and backward through the rack 28 toallow the tray base 22 to support and guide the tray 23 integrated withthe carrier 27, thereby enabling integral movement. This configurationenables the disc 1 or 2 to move within the apparatus body 20 between thedisc housing position A and the disc playing position B.

[0094] Next, the configuration of a disc holding means 30 will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 2, 5 to 7, 26, 27, and 35.

[0095] The disc holding means 30 is provided at the disc housingposition A and has a vertical pair of spindles, that is, an upperspindle 31 and a lower spindle 41 that detachably hold a plurality ofspacers 38. The disc holding means 30 elevates and lowers the lowerspindle 41 and drives the spacers 38 in the vertical direction to enablethe disc 1 or 2 to be delivered to the disc transfer means 21.

[0096] Reference numeral 32 is a spindle mounting plate provided in therear half of the side plates 20B and between the top surfaces of theside plates 20B, and the upper spindle 31 is provided under the spindlemounting plate and at the center thereof. In addition, 42 is anelevating base (a spindle base) opposed to the spindle mounting plate 32from below, driven by an elevating means (described below) in thevertical direction, and having the lower spindle 41 provided thereon andat the center thereof.

[0097] The upper spindle 31 has a flange 31 b at the upper end of anupper spindle body 31 a, and an engaging piece 31 c formed on the flange31 b engages with an engaging hole 32 a formed in the spindle mountingplate 32. A disc presser 33 is buried in the outer circumference of theupper spindle body 31 a so as to move along a vertical groove 31 e inthe upper spindle body 31 a. The disc presser 33 is urged downward by adisc presser spring 34 provided between the disc presser 33 and theflange 31 b.

[0098] A holding claw 35 is housed inside the upper spindle body 31 a.The holding claw 35 consists of a claw portion 35 a for holding thespacers 38 on the upper spindle 31, a core portion 35 b on which aprotruding portion 44 c of the lower spindle 41 abuts, and an upperstopper 35 c, and is integrally formed of a synthetic resin.

[0099] The holding claw 35 is urged downward by a claw opening spring 36provided between the holding claw 35 and the spindle mounting plate 32,but is prevented by a pressing section 31 d from jumping out. Thepressing section 31 d is formed integrally with the upper spindle body31 a, and the tip of a press-down piece 48 a of a detachment preventionclaw 48, which is described below, abuts on the pressing section 31 d.

[0100] The claw portion 35 a is configured to be bent inward and outwardbecause its root is formed of a sheet. The tip 35 d of the claw portion35 a is shaped like a hook, and its portion that contacts the upperspindle body 31 a inclines inward. To allow the tip 35 d of the clawportion 35 a to sufficiently move backward into the upper spindle body31 a, three vertical grooves 35 e are formed in the core portion 35 b ofthe holding claw 35 at positions at which the tip 35 d abuts on theupper spindle body 31 a.

[0101] The lower spindle 41 is composed of a lower spindle body 45consisting of an outer cylinder 43 and an inner cylinder 44; and thedetachment prevention claw 48 buried in the inner cylinder 44. The innercylinder 44 is buried in a lower shaft 42 a formed on an elevating base42 and has at its lower end an engaging locking piece 44 a engaged withand fixed to the elevating base 42. The outer cylinder 43 has a flange43 a at its lower end, and a ring-shaped gear 43 b is provided on thebottom surface of the flange 43 a. The ring-shaped gear 43 b meshes witha second intermediate gear 157 in a gear train (described below) torotate the outer cylinder 43.

[0102] A male thread 43 c is formed in the outer circumference of theouter cylinder 43, and a screw section 46 that moves the spacer 38 inthe vertical direction is screwed on the male thread 43 c. A rotationstopper 47 is mounted on the screw section 46 to prevent the screwsection 46 from rotating with the rotation of the cylinder 43. Therotation stopper 47 has one end journaled to the screw section 46 andthe other end journaled to the elevating base 42.

[0103] A detachment preventing claw 48 is composed of three clawsections 48 b that are open outward, three pressed-up pieces 48 a eachformed between the claw sections 48 b, and a lower stopper 48 dprotruding downward.

[0104] Three claw holes 44 b are formed at the top of the inner cylinder44 to allow the tips of the claw sections 48 b to enter and leave theseholes (see FIG. 7). Small holes are each formed between the claw holes44 b to allow the tip of the pressed-up piece 48 a to protrudetherefrom. The detachment preventing claw 48 is pressed upward by acompression spring 49 within the lower shaft 42 a in such a way that thetips 48 e of the claw sections 48 b protrude from the claw holes 44 b toallow the pressing-up pieces 48 a to protrude from the small holes. Inaddition, a protruding portion 44 c that presses the holding claw 35upward is formed at the center of the top of the inner cylinder 44. Thelower side of the protruding portion 44 c inclines so that the clawsections 48 b can enter and leave the claw holes 44 b easily.

[0105] A pin 50 and two pins 51 protruding outward are provided on theright and left sides, respectively, of the elevating base 42, whereinthe two (left) pins 51 are provided in the longitudinal direction. Inaddition, 52 is vertical-feeding detection sensor for detecting slits 43d formed in the outer circumference of the flange 43 a to count thenumber of rotations.

[0106] The components 31 to 52 constitute an example of the disc holdingmeans 30, which operates as described below.

[0107] In FIG. 5, the five discs 1 and 2 are stored in the lower spindle41, and the upper and lower spindles 31 and 41 are mutually spaced. Whenan elevating means (described below) elevates the elevating base 42 (inthe arrow Y direction), the lower spindle 41 mounted on the elevatingbase 42 also elevates.

[0108] The elevation of the lower spindle 41 causes the three holdingclaws 35 arranged at an angle of 120° and the detachment preventing claw48 to fit with each other in such a way that the protruding portion 44 cabuts on a core portion 35 b of the holding claws 35. Furthermore, asthe protruding portion 44 c presses the holding claw 35 upward againstthe force of the claw opening spring 36, the tip 35 d of the holdingclaw 35 enters the upper spindle body 31 a. Thus, the spacers 38 movetoward the upper spindle 31 without being obstructed by the tips of theclaw sections 35 a.

[0109] At the same time, the pressed-up pieces 48 a of the detachmentpreventing claw 48 abut on the pressing section 31 d of the upperspindle 31. As the pressing section 31 d presses back the detachmentpreventing claw 48 downward against the force of the compression spring49, the tips 48 e of the claw sections 48 b of the detachment preventingclaw 48 moves backward into the inner cylinder 44. Thus, the spacer 38can move from the lower spindle 41 to the upper spindle 31 (see FIG. 6).

[0110] In this state, the rotational force of a second intermediate gear157 in the gear train is transmitted to the ring-shaped gear 43 b torotate the outer cylinder 43. The rotation of the outer cylinder 43causes the threaded portion 46 to move along the lower spindle 41 topress the spacers 38 up. The threaded portion 46 moves the discs 1 and 2from the lower spindle 41 to the upper spindle 31 so that required discs1, 2 stop when they are located at the lower end of the upper spindle31.

[0111] To move the discs 1 and 2 on the upper spindle 31 to the lowerspindle 41, the outer cylinder 43 may be reversely rotated to lower thethreaded portion 46. The amount of movement is controlled so thatstoppage is carried out based on the number of rotations of the flange43 a integrated with the lower spindle 41 amount of movement, which iscounted by the vertical-feeding detection sensor 52.

[0112] Once the elevating means lowers the elevating base 42 (in thearrow Z direction) to space the upper and lower spindles 31 and 41mutually, the tray 23 is moved to between the upper and lower spindles31 and 41.

[0113] When the upper and lower spindles 31 and 41 are mutually spaced,the claw opening spring 36 presses the holding claw 35 downward to causethe tips 35 d of the claw sections 35 a to protrude from the outercircumferential wall of the upper spindle 31 to hold the spacers 38 anddiscs 1 and 2 that have been moved to the upper spindle 31. At the sametime, the compression spring 49 presses the detachment preventing claw48 upward to allow the claw sections 35 a to protrude from the clawholes 44 b in order to prevent the spacers 38 fitted on the lowerspindle 41 from being detached therefrom.

[0114] After the tray 23 has moved to between the upper and lowerspindles 31 and 41, the elevating means elevates the lower spindle 41again. When the lower spindle 41 abuts on the upper spindle 31 to detachthe holding claw 35, the spacers 38 are vertically driven to lower byone slit (corresponding to one rotation of the lower spindle 41). Then,the upper and lower spindles 31 and 41 are then mutually spaced again toplace the required discs 1 and 2 on the tray 23, and the discs are thentransferred to the disc playing position B or the exterior.

[0115] Next, the configuration of the disc playing means 60 will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 2, 4, 8, 25, and 34 to 40.

[0116] The disc playing means 60 supported on the apparatus body 20 soas to be able to elevate and lower is provided at the disc playingposition B. The disc playing means 60 has an elevating stand 61 that canelevate and lower in the arrow Y-Z direction, with a recording/playingapparatus 62 for the discs 1 and 2 embedded in the elevating stand 61.Buffer springs 63 are provided between the elevating stand 61 and therecording/playing apparatus 62 at a plurality of positions to urge andelevate the recording/playing apparatus 62. Disc clampers 64 of therecording/playing apparatus 62 are supported at a predetermined intervalin an upper cover 67 provided between the top surfaces of the sideplates 20B and closer to the front side. A pin 65 and a pin 66 bothprotruding outward are provided on the left and right sides,respectively, of the elevating stand 61.

[0117] The components 61 to 67 constitute an example of the disc playingmeans 60. The elevating means (described below) elevates the elevatingstand 61 of the disc playing means 60 in the arrow Y direction toseparate the discs 1 and 2 from the top surface of the tray 23, and thediscs are then clamped between the recording/playing apparatus 62 andthe disc dampers 64 for recording/playing.

[0118] Next, the configuration of an elevating means 70 for elevatingand lowering the lower spindle 41 and the disc playing means 60 will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 4, 8, 16, 25 to 27, 34, and 40.

[0119] A lateral pair of plates 71 and 81 that are supported and guidedby the side plates 20B of the apparatus body 20 to slide in the arrowW-X direction are provided in the apparatus body 20. Protruding portions72 and 82 protruding in opposite directions are integrally connected tothe ends of the plates 71 and 81 near the rear plate 20C, and long holes73 and 83 extending in opposite directions are formed in the protrudingportions 72 and 82, respectively.

[0120] One (the right) plate 71 of the plates is an example of a unitarypart. It has a cam groove 74 in its rear portion, with which a pin 50provided on one side of the elevating base 42 of the lower spindle 41 isengaged and has in its front portion an upper rack 75 and a lower rack76 facing inward. In addition, the other (the left) plate 81 has in itsfront and rear portions a pair of cam grooves 84 with which a pair ofpins 51 provided on the other side of the elevating base 42 are engagedand a cam groove 85 with which a pin 66 provided on the other side ofthe disc playing means 60 is engaged. A pin 65 provided on one side ofthe disc playing means 60 engages with a cam groove 96 on the cam gear(described below) side.

[0121] The cam groove 74 in one 71 of the plates is formed of thecontinuous groove in an upper front cam section 74 a, V-shaped camsection 74 b, an upper intermediate cam section 74 c, and an upper rearcam section 74 d arranged from front to rear in this order (see FIGS. 9and 16). The upper intermediate cam section 74 c and the upper front camsection 74 a are located above the upper rear cam section 74 d.

[0122] The cam grooves 84 in the rear and intermediate of the otherplate 81 are formed of the continuous groove in an upper front camsection 84 a, an upper intermediate cam section 84 b, a V-shaped camsection 84 c, and an upper rear cam section 84 d arranged from front torear in this order (see FIGS. 26 and 27). The upper front cam section 84a is located above the upper intermediate cam section 84 b and the upperrear cam section 84 d.

[0123] The front cam groove 85 in the other plate 81 is formed of thecontinuous groove in a lower front cam section 85 a, an upperintermediate cam section 85 b, and a lower rear cam section 85 carranged from front to rear in this order (see FIGS. 26 and 35). The camgroove 96 on the cam gear side is formed like a spiral (see FIGS. 17,19, and 25).

[0124] A shaft 86 stands from the bottom plate 20A of the apparatus body20 near the rear plate 20C, and has a connection lever 87 rotatablysupported on its intermediate. Pins 88 and 89 stand from the respectiveends of the connection lever 87 and engage with the long holes 73 and83, respectively. Thus, the connection lever 87 rotatably supported onthe apparatus body 20 connects the lateral pair of plates 71 and 81together so that the plates 71 and 81 slide in opposite direction.

[0125] In the apparatus body 20, an intermediate gear 90 that engageswith the lower rack 76 is rotatably provided via a shaft 91 standingfrom the bottom plate 20A, and a cam gear 92 that engages with theintermediate gear 90 is rotatably provided via a shaft 93. A camcylinder 94 is integrated with the cam gear 92 on its bottom surface.The cam groove 96 with which the pin 65 provided on one side of the discplaying means 60 is engaged is formed in the outer circumference of thecam cylinder 94.

[0126] The components 71 to 96 constitute an example of the elevatingmeans 70. According to the elevating means 70, the gear rotating forceof a horizontal driving means (described below) is transmitted to one 71of the plates via the upper rack 75 to allow the plate 71 to slide inthe arrow W-X direction while allowing the other plate 81 to slide inthe opposite direction via the connection lever 87. At the same time,the intermediate gear 90 engaging with the lower rack 76 is rotated torotate the cam cylinder 94 via the cam gear 92.

[0127] Thus, the left and right plates 71 and 81 are allowed to slide inthe opposite directions and the cam gear 92 is rotated in response tothe movement of one 71 of the plates to elevate and lower the elevatingbase 42 of the lower spindle 41 via the cam grooves 74 and 84 in thearrow Y-Z direction while elevating and lowering the disc playing means60 via the cam grooves 96 and 85 in the arrow Y-Z direction. Theformation positions of the cam grooves 74, 84, 96, and 85 and the camshapes are set so that the operation is preferably performed in responseto the movement of the plates 71 and 81 with timings described below.

[0128] During playing as shown in FIGS. 16(A), 27, and 29, one 50 of thepins of the elevating base 42 engages with the upper intermediate camsection 74 c of the cam groove 74, the other pin 51 of the engaging base42 engages with the upper intermediate cam section 84 b of the camgroove 84, the other pin 66 of the disc playing means 60 engages withthe upper intermediate cam section 85 b of the cam groove 85, and one 65of pins of the disc playing means 60 engages with the cam groove 96.

[0129] While the lower spindle is lowering and the tray is located infront as shown in FIGS. 17 to 19 and 36, one 50 of the pins of theelevating base 42 engages with the V-shaped cam section 74 b of the camgroove 74, the other pin 51 of the engaging base 42 engages with theV-shaped cam section 84 c of the cam groove 84, the other pin 66 of thedisc playing means 60 engages with the lower rear cam section 85 c ofthe cam groove 85, and one 65 of pins of the disc playing means 60engages with the cam groove 96.

[0130] In addition, while the lower spindle is lowering and the tray islocated in rear as shown in FIG. 37, one 50 of the pins of the elevatingbase 42 engages with the V-shaped cam section 74 b of the cam groove 74,the other pin 51 of the engaging base 42 engages with the V-shaped camsection 84 c of the cam groove 84, the other pin 66 of the disc playingmeans 60 engages with the lower rear cam section 85 c of the cam groove85, and one 65 of pins of the disc playing means 60 engages with the camgroove 96.

[0131] In addition, while the disc is being stocked as shown in FIGS.16(C) and 38, one 50 of the pins of the elevating base 42 engages withthe upper front cam section 74 a of the cam groove 74, the other pin 51of the engaging base 42 engages with the upper rear cam section 84 d ofthe cam groove 84, the other pin 66 of the disc playing means 60 engageswith the lower rear cam section 85 c of the cam groove 85, and one 65 ofpins of the disc playing means 60 engages with the cam groove 96.

[0132] In addition, while the disc is being changed as shown in FIGS.16(B) and 39, one 50 of the pins of the elevating base 42 engages withthe upper intermediate cam section 74 c of the cam groove 74, the otherpin 51 of the engaging base 42 engages with the upper intermediate camsection 84 b of the cam groove 84, the other pin 66 of the disc playingmeans 60 engages with the upper intermediate cam section 85 b of the camgroove 85, and one 65 of pins of the disc playing means 60 engages withthe cam groove 96.

[0133] As described above, the elevating means 70 is configured so thatthe movement of one 71 of the plates that is a unitary partsimultaneously allows the lower spindle 41 and the disc playing means 60to elevate and lower. Thus, by using the same plate 71 to drive theelevation and lowering of the lower spindle 41 and the disc playingmeans 60, timings for the elevation and lowering can be easily matchedbetween these components to enable the discs to be elevated and loweredwithout changing the gap between the elevating or lowering played discand the held discs in the housing section, thereby preventing the discfrom contacting one another.

[0134] In addition, since the plates 71 and 81 having the cam grooves74, 84, and 85 drive the elevation and lowering of the lower spindle 41of the disc holding means 30 and the disc playing means 60, theelevation and lowering of the lower spindle 41 and the disc playingmeans 60 can be carried out using the simple configuration whileprecluding the timings from being unmatched.

[0135] Furthermore, due to the configuration in which the elevatingmeans 70 shared by the lower spindle 41 and the disc playing means 60include the lateral pair of plates 71 and 81 and the cam gear 92connected to the plate 71 via the intermediate gear 90 to rotate insynchronism with the movement of the plate 71, elevation and loweringcan be carried out using the simple configuration while precluding thetimings from being unmatched even if the widthwise pitch of the pins 65and 66 provided on the left and right of the disc playing means 60 isdifferent from the widthwise pitch of the pins 50 and 51 provided on theleft and right of the elevating base 42 of the lower spindle 41.

[0136] Next, the configuration of a horizontal driving means 100 thatcan drive the disc transfer means 21 and the elevating means 70 will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 9-15, 23, and 40.

[0137] The horizontal driving means 100 has a driving gear 101 connectedto a driving source via a speed reduction mechanism (described below)and rotatably mounted on a shaft 102 standing from the bottom plate 20A.A driving rack 103 is provided that is supported and guided by thecarrier 27 side of the disc transfer means 21 and the tray base 22 torelatively slide in the arrow W-X direction, and a rack 104 of thedriving rack 103 is formed in its inner side to engage with the drivinggear 101.

[0138] A speed increasing gear 106 is rotatably provided at apredetermined position of the driving rack 103 via a shaft 105. Thespeed increasing gear 106 is a two-stage gear composed of a larger and asmaller gears 106A and 106B that have the same number of teeth butdifferent modules, wherein the smaller gear 106B engages with the rack75 of one 71 of the plates provided in the elevating means 70, while thelarger gear 106A engages with the rack 28 of the carrier 27 provided inthe disc transfer means 21.

[0139] The tray base 22 has in its front a stopper device 110 thatrestrains the sliding of the carrier 27 and the plate 71 in the arrow Wdirection and a carrier lock device 112 that inhibits the sliding of thecarrier 27 in the arrow X direction.

[0140] The stopper device 110 is in the form of an L-shaped lever and isrotatably provided on the tray base 22 via a pin 111. One of its armsections is formed into a receiving section 110 a on which an abuttingsection 27 a formed at the front end of the carrier 27 can be abutted.In addition, the other arm section has formed therein a receivingsection 110 b on which a tip abutting section 71 d formed at the tip ofthe plate 71 can be abutted and an engaging locking section 110 c thatcan engage with the carrier 27.

[0141] The engaging locking section 110 c is configured to engage withan engaging-locking recessed portion 27 b formed in the outer side ofthe carrier 27 when the abutting section 27 a of the carrier 27 abuts onthe receiving section 110 a to rotate the stopper device 110 around thepin 111 by a predetermined amount.

[0142] The carrier lock device 112 is also in the form of an L-shapedlever and is rotatably provided on the tray base 22 via a pin 113. Oneof its arm sections is formed into a stopper section 112 a that canengage with a stopper recessed portion 27 c formed in the inner side ofthe carrier 27. In addition, the other arm section is formed into anunlocking rotary receiving section 112 b.

[0143] A common urging spring 114 is provided across the stopper device110 and the carrier lock device 112 to rotate and urge these devices.The urging spring 114 is disposed to urge the stopper device 110 in adirection in which the device 110 is released while urging the carrierlock device 112 in a direction in which the device 112 engages with thecarrier.

[0144] An operation device 115 is provided in front of the apparatusbody 20 to rotationally move the carrier lock device 112 in theunlocking direction. The operation device 115 is in the form of a leverand is rotatably provided on the apparatus body 20 via a pin 116.

[0145] A first arm section of the operation device 115 has formedtherein a receiving section 115 a on which a front abutting section 71 aformed on one 71 of the plates can be abutted. In addition, a second armsection has formed therein a rotary operation section 115 b that can beabutted on the unlocking rotary receiving section 112 b of the carrierlock device 112 from the rear. A third arm section has formed thereon acam pin 115 c that can be laterally engaged with and detached from alocking cam groove 22 a provided in the bottom surface of the tray base22. The locking cam groove 22 a is formed like a curved surface in sucha way to follow the moving trace of the cam pin 115 c.

[0146] A spring 117 is provided to urge the operation device 115 forrotational movement wherein the urging direction is set so as to shiftthe receiving section 115 a backward.

[0147] An intermediate lock device 120 that inhibits one 71 of theplates that has moved in the arrow W direction as far as possible frommoving in the arrow X direction while restraining the movement of thetray base 22 in the arrow X direction is provided in the middle of theapparatus body 20. The intermediate lock device 120 is in the form of alever and its central position is rotationally formed on the apparatusbody 20 via a pin 121.

[0148] A receiving section 120 a on which an intermediate abuttingsection 71 b formed in the middle of the plate 71 can be abutted isformed at the front end of the intermediate lock device 120. A passivecam section 120 b on which a driving cam section 22 b (see FIG. 3)provided close to the rear of the tray base 22 can be abutted is formedclose to the rear of the intermediate lock device 120. In addition, astopper section 120 c on which a stopped portion 22 c (see FIG. 3)provided close to the rear of the tray base 22 can be abutted is formedat the rear end of the intermediate lock device 120. A spring 122 urgesthe intermediate lock device 120 so that the receiving section 120 athrusts into the moving trace of the intermediate abutting section 71 b.

[0149] The apparatus body 20 has in its rear, a rear lock device 123that receives one 71 of the plates that has moved in the arrow Xdirection and that locks the carrier 27 when the plate 71 has furthermoved in the arrow X direction. The rear lock device 123 is in the formof an L-shaped lever and its central position is rotationally formed onthe apparatus body 20 via a pin 124.

[0150] A receiving section 123 a on which a rear-end abutting section 71c formed at the rear end of the plate 71 can be abutted is formed at thefront end of a front-facing arm section of the rear lock device 123. Anabutting section 123 b on which a rear-end abutting section 27 d formedat the rear end of the carrier 27 can be abutted is formed in ahorizontal arm section of the rear lock device 123. In addition, thereceiving section 123 a has formed thereon an engaging locking section123 c that can be externally engaged with and disengaged from anengaging-locking recessed portion 27 e provided close to the rear of thecarrier 27 and that is outwardly open. A spring 125 urges the rear lockdevice 123 so that the receiving section 123 a thrusts into the movingtrace of the rear-end abutting section 71 c.

[0151] The components 101 to 125 constitutes an example of thehorizontal driving means 100 capable of driving the disc transfer means21 and the elevating means 70. According to the horizontal driving means100, a driving source rotationally drives the driving gear 101 forwardand backward via the speed reduction mechanism to allow the driving rack103 to slide in the arrow W-X direction. The sliding of the driving rack103 causes the disc transfer means 21 and the elevating means 70 to bedriven via the speed increasing gear 106.

[0152] For example, while the disc is being played as shown in FIG.11(A), the carrier 27 is moved to the front end limit to allow itsabutting section 27 a to abut on the receiving section 110 a torotationally move the stopper device 110 against the force of the urgingspring 114, thereby engaging the engaging locking section 110 c with theengaging-locking recessed portion 27 b of the carrier 27. This operationserves to maintain the position of the carrier 27 at the front endlimit. In addition, the rotary operation section 115 b of the operationdevice 115 abuts on the rotary receiving section 112 b of the carrierlock device 112 to rotationally move the carrier lock device 112 againstthe force of the urging spring 114 to detach the stopper section 112from the stopper recessed portion 27 c.

[0153] The driving cam section 22 b of the tray base 22 acts on thereceiving cam section 120 b to rotationally move the intermediate lockdevice 120 against the force of the spring 122 to place the receivingsection 120 a out of the moving trace of the rear abutting section 71 b.Furthermore, the rear lock section 123 is rotationally moved by means ofthe urging force of the spring 125 to thrust the receiving section 123 ainto the moving trace of the rear-end abutting section 71 c. Inaddition, one 71 of the plates slides toward the front end to elevatethe elevating means 70 to lift the spindle 41 and the recording/playingapparatus 62.

[0154] In this state, to return to the disc housing position A the discsland 2 that have been played, the driving gear 101 is first rotated inthe arrow M direction in FIG. 11(B). Then, the driving rack 103 slidesin the arrow X direction, but since the stopper device 110 inhibits themovement of the carrier 27, the larger gear 106A of the speed increasinggear 106 journaled to the driving rack 103 meshes with the rack 28 ofthe carrier 27 to rotate the speed increasing gear 106.

[0155] Consequently, the smaller gear 106B of the speed increasing gear106 is rotated to cause the one 71 of the plates to slide in the arrow Xdirection via the upper rack 75 until the rear-end abutting section 71 cabuts on the receiving section 123 a.

[0156] The sliding of one 71 of the plates in the arrow X directioncauses the elevating means 70 to descend to lower the lower spindle 41and the recording/playing apparatus 62. In this case, the speedincreasing gear 106 is transmitting a force at a reduced speed to enableslow and stable descent. As a result, the lower spindle has lowered andthe tray is placed at the front position as shown in FIG. 11(B).

[0157] When the rear-end abutting section 71 c of one 71 of the platesabuts on the receiving section 123 a to stop the sliding of the plate71, the driving rack 103 slides in the arrow X direction to allow thesmaller gear 106B of the speed increasing gear 106 journaled to thedriving rack 103 to mesh with the fixed upper rack 75 to rotate thespeed increasing gear 106. Consequently, as shown in FIG. 12(A), thelarger gear 106A of the speed increasing gear 106 is rotated to allowthe carrier 27 to slide in the arrow X direction via the rack 28 torotationally move the stopper device 110 due to the urging spring 114,thereby detaching the engaging locking section 110 c from theengaging-locking recessed portion 27 b of the carrier 27.

[0158] The carrier 27 slides until the rear-end abutting section 27 dabuts on the abutting section 123 b. This abutment causes the rear lockdevice 123 to be rotationally moved against the force of the spring 125to externally engage the engaging-locking section 123 c with theengaging-locking recessed portion 27 e to lock the position of thecarrier 27 at the rear end limit. The carrier 27 slides to allow thetray 23 to slide in the arrow X direction relative to the tray base 22,resulting in the state shown in FIG. 12(A) in which the lower spindlehas lowered and in which the tray is placed at the rear position. Thelocking rotational movement of the rear lock device 123 causes thereceiving section 123 a to escape inward from the rear-end abuttingsection 71 c of the plate 71.

[0159] This operation enables the plate 71 to slide in the arrow Xdirection. Thus, one 71 of the plates is allowed to slide in the arrow Xdirection to elevate the elevating means 70 and thus the lower spindle41 and the recording/playing apparatus 62, resulting in the disc stockstate shown in FIG. 12(B).

[0160] To switch this state to the disc change state shown in FIG. 13,the driving gear 101 is first rotated in the direction opposite to theone described above, that is, the arrow N direction. Then, the drivingrack 103 slides in the arrow W direction, but since the rear lock device123 inhibits the movement of the carrier 27, the larger gear 106A of thespeed increasing gear 106 journaled to the driving rack 103 meshes withthe fixed rack 28 of the carrier 27 to rotate the speed increasing gear106.

[0161] Consequently, the smaller gear 106B of the speed increasing gear106 is rotated to cause the one 71 of the plates to slide in the arrow Wdirection via the upper rack 75. Then, the elevating means 70 descendsto lower the lower spindle 41 and the recording/playing apparatus 62.

[0162] When one 71 of the plates slides in the arrow (a) direction toabut and lock the tip abutting section 71 d of the plate 71 on thereceiving section 110 d of the lock device 110, as described above, therear lock device 123 can be rotationally moved by the spring 125 in theunlocking direction. Thus, the rear lock device 123 is rotationallymoved in the unlocking direction to detach the engaging locking section123 c from the engaging-locking recessed portion 27 e. The sliding ofthe driving rack 103 in the arrow (a) direction causes the speedincreasing gear 106 journaled to the driving rack 103 to rotate due tothe engagement of its smaller gear 106B with the fixed upper rack 75.

[0163] Consequently, the larger gear 106A of the speed increasing gear106 is rotated to feed the carrier 27 in the arrow W direction via therack 28, and the carrier 27 slides in the arrow W direction while havingits speed increased as the driving rack 103 moves. The carrier 27 slidesuntil its abutting section 27 a abuts on the receiving section 110 a ofthe lock device 110. The sliding of the carrier 27 causes the tray 23 toslide in the arrow W direction relative to the tray base 22. Inaddition, the abutting section 27 a abuts on the receiving section 110 ato rotationally move the stopper device 110 against the force of theurging spring 114 to engage the engaging-locking section 110 c withengaging-locking recessed portion 27 b of the carrier 27. This operationserves to maintain the position of the carrier 27 at the front endlimit. The locking rotational movement of the stopper device 110 causesthe receiving section 110 b to escape inward from the tip abuttingsection 71 d of the plate 71.

[0164] This operation enables the plate 71 to slide in the arrow Wdirection. Thus, one 71 of the plates is allowed to slide in the arrow Wdirection to elevate the elevating means 70, thereby elevating the lowerspindle 41 and the recording/playing apparatus 62, resulting in the discchange state shown in FIG. 13.

[0165] In the closed state shown in FIG. 14(A), one 71 of the platesfurther slides in the arrow W direction compared to the play state shownin FIG. 11(A). Thus, the elevating means 70 descends to lower the lowerspindle 41 and the recording/playing apparatus 62.

[0166] In the closed state shown in FIG. 14(A), the driving gear 101 canbe rotated in the arrow direction to enter the open state shown in FIG.14(B). That is, the driving gear 101 is rotated to allow the drivingrack 103 to slide in the arrow W direction to abut on a stopper (notshown) provided in front of the apparatus body 20, thereby meshing thesmaller gear 106B with the upper rack 75 on the plate 71 that is stoppedin the arrow W direction. The smaller gear 106B is then rotated torotate the larger gear 106A of the speed increasing gear 106 to causethe carrier 27 to slide in the arrow W direction via the rack 28. Inthis case, the carrier lock device 112 is rotationally moved due to theurging spring 114 to engage its stopper section 112 a with the stopperrecessed portion 27 c of the carrier 27 as shown in FIGS. 14(B) and 15in order to lock the carrier 27. The carrier lock device 112 allows thetray base 22 and tray 23 integrated with the carrier 27 to protrusivelymove in the arrow W direction.

[0167] The movement of the tray base 22 and the tray 23 in the arrow Xdirection in switching from the open state shown in FIG. 14(B) to theclose state shown in FIG. 14(A) is effected by rotating the driving gear101 in the arrow M direction.

[0168] According to the horizontal driving means 100, with respect tothe driving of the tray 23 and the driving of both spindles 31 and 41and the elevating means 70 of the disc playing means 60 which involvesignificantly different operational loads, by freely selecting themodules, that is, the pitch radii of the larger and smaller gears 106Aand 106B having the same number of teeth, the driving force transmittedfrom the common driving source can be freely set depending on loads onthe tray 23 and elevating means 70 and required speeds.

[0169] Next, the configuration of a horizontality maintaining means 130for restraining the elevating posture of the disc playing means 60 willbe described with reference to FIGS. 17 to 22 and 40.

[0170] The horizontality maintaining means 130 has a rotating shaft 131extending parallel with the sliding direction of the plate 81 (the arrowW-X direction) and rotatably supported on the other side plate 20B ofthe apparatus body 20. V-shaped horizontality maintaining levers 132 areintegrated with the rotating shaft 131 at two longitudinal positionsthereof (the levers 312 may be provided at a single or plural positions)via its proximal ends so as to be rotationally move with the rotatingshaft 131. An engaging pin (an example of an engaging section) extendingparallel with the rotating shaft 131 is provided at the free end of thehorizontality maintaining lever 132.

[0171] In addition, an L-shaped lower member 134 and an L-shaped uppermember 135 are integrally provided on the other side of the elevatingstand 61 of the disc playing means 60 at two positions in the arrow W-Xdirection and in parallel in this direction. The lower member 134 formsan upward receiving surface 134 a and the upper member 135 forms adownward pressing surface 135 a. A receiving surface 134 a and thepressing surface 135 a form an engaging groove 136 that appears like along hole in the lateral direction as seen from the longitudinaldirection. The engaging pin 133 is configured to slidably engage withthe engaging groove 136 to rotationally move around the axis of therotating shaft 131 during the elevation and lowering of the disc playingmeans 60.

[0172] The components 131 to 136 constitutes an example of thehorizontality maintaining means 130 for restraining the elevating andlowering posture of the disc playing means 60.

[0173] According to the horizontality maintaining means 130, theelevating means 70 drives the left and right plates 71 and 81 to allowthem to slide in opposite directions. Thus, the cam gear 92 rotates inresponse to the movement of one 71 of the plates to rotate the camcylinder 94 integrated with the cam gear 92 to rotate the cam groove 96formed in the cam cylinder 94, thereby elevating and lowering the pin 65engaged with the cam groove 96, and thereby synchronously elevating andlowering the pin 66 engaged with the cam groove 85, by the correspondingamount due to the movement of the cam groove 85 formed in the otherplate 81.

[0174] Thus, the disc playing means 60 elevates and lowers in the arrowY-Z direction. That is, FIGS. 17 to 19 show a state in which the discplaying means 60 is lowered in the arrow Z direction, whereas FIGS. 20to 21 show a state in which the disc playing means 60 is elevated in thearrow Y direction.

[0175] While the disc playing means 60 is elevating and lowering in thismanner, in the horizontality maintaining means 130 the engaging pin 133is slidably engaged with the engaging groove 136 and is thus elevatedand lowered in response to the decent and descent of the disc playingmeans 60. Then, the horizontality maintaining levers 132 with theengaging pin 133 integrated therewith are rotationally moved with therotating shaft 131 to rotationally move the engaging pin 133 around theaxis of the rotating shaft 131.

[0176] Thus, the disc playing means 60 can be elevated and lowered whileusing the pair of horizontality maintaining levers 132 to restrainmovements other than the elevation and lowering, that is, to restrainthe rotational movement of the disc playing means 60.

[0177] The horizontality maintaining means 130 is composed of therotating shaft 131 extending parallel with the sliding direction of theplate 81, the horizontality maintaining lever 132 that can rotationallymove with the rotating shaft 131, and the engaging pin 133 provided onthe horizontality maintaining lever 132 and parallel with the rotatingshaft 131 so that the engaging pin 133 is slidably engaged with theengaging locking groove 36 provided in the disc playing apparatus 60 andthus the horizontality maintaining means 130 rotationally moves aroundthe axis of the rotating shaft 131 when the disc playing apparatus 60elevates or lowers. Thus, when the disc playing apparatus 60 elevates orlowers, the engaging pin 133 provided on the horizontality maintaininglever 132 and parallel with the rotating shaft 131 contacts the engaginggroove 136 in the disc playing means 60 and slides to enable therotational movement of the disc playing means 60 to be restrained,thereby maintaining the horizontal posture of the disc playing means 60.

[0178] In addition, the disc playing means 60 is elevated and lowered byengaging the lateral pair of pins 65 and 66 provided on the disc playingmeans 60 with the lateral pair of cam grooves 85 and 96 provided in theelevating means 70. Accordingly, the elevating means 70 requires onlythe single pair of cam grooves 85 and 96, so the sliding stroke of theelevating means 70 can be reduced to compactify the disc playingapparatus 19.

[0179] Next, the configuration of a speed reduction mechanism 141 forconnecting to the driving gear 101 of the horizontal-driving means 100,the rotation of a driving source 140 consisting of a motor that can bedriven forward and backward, the configuration of a gear train 149provided on the horizontal-driving means 100, and the configuration of agear train 151 provided in a vertical-driving system for the spacers 38will be described with reference to FIGS. 23, 24, and 40.

[0180] The driving source 140 consisting of a motor that can be drivenforward and backward is fixed to the front of the apparatus body 20, andan elastic belt 146 is extended between a transmission pulley 143mounted on an output shaft 142 of the driving source and a passivepulley 145 rotatably provided in the middle of the apparatus 20 via ashaft 144. A cylindrical gear 147 is fixed to the bottom surface of thepassive pulley 145. The components 142 to 147 constitute an example ofthe speed reduction mechanism 141 for connecting the rotation of thedriving source 140 to the driving gear 101.

[0181] An example of the gear train 149 provided on thehorizontal-driving means 100 is composed of the driving gear 101 of thehorizontal-driving means 100 and a large-diameter passive gear 108integrated with the driving gear 101.

[0182] The gear train 151 provided in the vertical-driving system forthe spacers 38 has a passive gear 152 provided opposite to thecylindrical gear 147 and is rotationally installed on the apparatus body20 via a shaft 153. A cylindrical transmission gear 154 is fixed to thebottom surface of the passive gear 152. A first intermediate gear 155that constantly meshes with the transmission gear 154 is rotatablyprovided on the elevating base 42 of the disc holding means 30 via ashaft 156, and a second intermediate gear 157 that constantly mesheswith the first intermediate gear 155 is rotatably provided thereon via ashaft 158.

[0183] The components 152 to 158 constitutes an example of the geartrain 151 provided in the vertical-driving system for the spacers 38.The second intermediate gear 157 constantly meshes with the ring-likegear 43 b of the disc holding means 30.

[0184] Next, the configurations of a switching gear 161 and adrive-switching means 165 for allowing the switching gear 161 to slidein the axial direction will be described with reference to FIGS. 23, 24,and 40. The switching gear 161 is provided opposite to all of thecylindrical gear 147, the passive gear 108, and the passive gear 152.

[0185] The switching gear 161 can slide (elevate and lower) and rotatein the axial direction of a shaft 162 from the apparatus body 20. Theswitching gear 161 consists of a large-diameter gear section 161A thatconstantly meshes with the cylindrical gear 147 and a small-diametergear section 161B provided on the bottom surface of the large-diametergear section 161A. The switching gear 161 is configured to be urgeddownward by a compression spring 163 and to elevate against the force ofthe compression spring 163 by means of the forward and backwardmovements of the drive-switching means 165 consisting of a plunger or alever.

[0186] Furthermore, the switching gear 161 is configured so that whenthe drive-switching means 165 is not driving and is lowered by theelastic force of the compression spring 163, the small-diameter gearsection 161B meshes with the passive gear 108 and so that when thedrive-switching means 165 operates to elevate against the force of thecompression spring 163, the large-diameter gear section 161A meshes withthe passive gear 152.

[0187] Then, the switching gear 161 is connected to the driving source140 via the speed reduction mechanism 141, and the drive-switching means165 operates to slide in the axial direction in order to mesh witheither the gear train 149 provided in the horizontal-driving means 100or the gear train 151 provided in the elevation and lowering drivingsystem for the spacers 38.

[0188] According to the configuration of the speed reduction mechanism141, the gear train 149, the gear train 151, and the switching gear 161,the forward or backward driving is transmitted to the cylindrical gear147 via the speed reduction mechanism 141 having the elastic belt 140 toreduce the speed of the cylindrical gear 147 for normal or reverserotations. During the sliding of the switching gear 161 driven by thedrive-switching means 165, switching modes are available including atleast the rotational driving, stoppage, and backward driving of theswitching gear 161. In this case, the forward and backward switchingmode is controlled to start with reverse rotations relative to therotational direction of the driving source 140 immediately before thestart of switching.

[0189] That is, in FIG. 41,

[0190] mode switching A comprises play, change, and elevation, or play,change, stock, and elevation,

[0191] mode switching B comprises elevation, change, play, and open, orstock elevation, change, and open,

[0192] mode switching C comprises stock, change, and elevation,

[0193] mode switching D comprises stock, change, and lowering,

[0194] mode switching E comprises elevation, change, and stock,

[0195] mode switching F comprises play, change, and lowering, or play,change, stock, and lowering,

[0196] mode switching G comprises lowering, change, and stock, and

[0197] mode switching H comprises elevate, change, play, and open, orstock lowering, change, and open. In either mode, during the forward orbackward sliding of the switching gear 161 driven by the drive-switchingmeans 165, the driving source 140 is controlled to start with reverserotations instead of normal rotations or with normal rotations insteadof reverse rotations.

[0198] That is, in mode switching A, the normal- or reverse-rotationline for the driving source 140 indicates brake-on in its higherposition and brake-off in its lower position. Thus, in area M, therotation is stopped because both normal and reverse rotations arebraked. In addition, during the sliding of the drive-switching means165, in area N, the brakes are taken off from the reverse rotation tostart reverse rotations, whereas in area O, the brakes are not appliedto the normal rotation but to the reverse rotation to effect intendednormal rotations.

[0199] When the drive-switching means 165 operates to elevate theswitching gear 161 against the elastic force of the compression spring163, the large-diameter gear section 161A meshing with the cylindricalgear 147 meshes with the passive gear 152, as shown in FIG. 24(A). Thus,after the switching and sliding of the switching gear 161 has beencompleted, the forward or backward driving by the driving source 140 istransmitted to the ring-like gear 43 b of the disc holding means 30 viathe gear train 151 to rotate the ring-like gear 43 b in the normal orreverse direction.

[0200] In addition, when the drive-switching means 165 is not operatedand the switching gear 161 is lowered by the elastic force of thecompression spring 163, the large-diameter gear section 161A isdisengaged from the passive gear 152, while the small-diameter gearsection 161B meshes with the passive gear 108, as shown in FIG. 24(B).Thus, after the switching and sliding of the switching gear 161 has beencompleted, the forward or backward driving by the driving source 140 istransmitted to the driving gear 101 of the horizontal-driving means 100via the gear train 149 to rotate driving gear 101 in the normal orreverse direction.

[0201] In these operations, the switching modes including the rotationaldriving, stoppage, and reverse driving of the switching gear 161 areavailable during the sliding of the switching gear 161 driven by thedrive-switching means 165. Thus, upon switching, the switching gear 161that effects switching between the two driving systems starts to meshwith the gear train 149 or 151 in each driving system while carrying outa few repetitions of rotations, stoppages, and reverse rotations.Consequently, the teeth tips are prevented from mutually abutting toobstruct the sliding of the switching gear 161, thereby enabling therotation to be positively transmitted. As a result, the sharing of thedriving source 140 and partial sharing of the driving systems areenabled to reduce the number of required parts and thus the size of theapparatus.

[0202] The use of the elastic belt 146 as part of the speed reductionmechanism 141 causes the lateral pressure of the elastic belt 146 toremain in the driving system after the driving source 140 has stoppeddriving, thereby increasing loads effected when the switching gear 161is disengaged from the driving system to which it has been connectedprior to switching. Thus, the repetitions of rotations, stoppages, andreverse rotations effectively eliminates this disadvantage.

[0203] In addition, since upon driving switching, the initial rotationaldirection of the switching gear 161 is controlled to start with thedirection opposite to the rotational direction of the driving system towhich the gear has been connected prior to switching, the rotationcaused by the inertia of driving after its stoppage can be stopped toreduce the standby time from the stoppage of driving prior to switchinguntil the switching mode is entered, thereby reducing the disc changetime. In addition, the configuration using the elastic belt 146 isparticularly effective in reducing switching loads caused by the lateralpressure of the elastic belt 146.

[0204] Next, the configuration of a disc gap maintaining means 170 willbe described with reference to FIGS. 25 to 27. The disc gap maintainingmeans 170 is configured to advance between housed discs adjacent to aplayed disc in the vertical direction. The disc gap maintaining means170 is provided between the disc playing position B and the disc housingposition A and is composed of a shaft section 171 rotatably supported onthe elevating base 42 of the lower spindle 41 and levers 172 connectedto the shaft section 171 at two lateral positions.

[0205] Advancing sections 173 that can advance between adjacent houseddiscs are provided at the tips of the respective levers 172, and areeach composed of two smooth planes 173 a and 173 b having a sharpjunction and that directly contact the end surfaces of the respectivediscs located above and below the planes 173 a and 173 b to separatethese adjacent discs in the vertical direction (the planes may beconfigured to advance between the discs without separating them in thevertical direction). In this case, the two advancing sections 173 of thedisc gap maintaining means 170 are provided approximately symmetricallyaround a centerline common to the played and housed discs.

[0206] The disc gap maintaining means 170 is configured to be driven bythe elevating means 70. That is, the disc gap maintaining means 170 isconfigured to use a spring 174 provided between the disc gap maintainingmeans 170 and the elevating gap 42 to stand the levers 172 in order tomove the advancing sections 173 backward from the end surfaces of theupper and lower discs. A lever-shaped cam follower 175 is provided atthe end of the shaft section 171, and a cam body 176 is provided on theinner surface of the other plate 81.

[0207] The components 171 to 176 constitute an example of the disc gapmaintaining means 170. According to the disc gap maintaining means 170,the plate 81 moves to the disc playing position B to allow the camfollower 175 to act on the cam body 176 to incline the levers 172 towardthe disc housing position A against the force of the spring 174, therebyallowing the advancing sections 173 to advance between the adjacenthoused discs.

[0208] Thus, even if the distance between the disc housing position Aand the disc playing position B is reduced so that the housed discs 1and 2 and the played discs 1 and 2 appear to overlap one another in atop view, in order to compactify the apparatus, as described above, thedisc gap maintaining means 170 advances between the housed discsadjacent to the played disc in the vertical direction and prevents thegap from being narrowed even when vibration occurs, thereby preventingaccidental track shifts or damage to the disc caused by the contactbetween the played and housed discs.

[0209] In addition, since the disc gap maintaining means 170 isconfigured to have the levers 172, it can be simply positioned and thegap can be stably maintained using the simple configuration.Furthermore, since the disc gap maintaining means 170 is configured tobe driven by the elevating means 70, it can be driven so as not todeviate from the elevating and lowering timings for the lower spindle 41and disc playing means 60 provided by the elevating means 70.

[0210] Furthermore, since the disc gap maintaining means 170 is providedbetween the disc housing position A and the disc playing position B, thegap can be maintained at a position close to both the disc housing andplaying positions A and B, resulting in accurate gap maintenance.

[0211] In the disc gap maintaining means 170, the advancing sections 173that advance between the adjacent discs are provided at the twopositions that are almost symmetrical around the center of the discs 1and 2, so that the right and left advancing sections 173 inhibits thehoused discs from inclining relative to the played disc to maintain astable gap despite adverse effects such as the inclination or vibrationof the apparatus.

[0212] Furthermore, since the advancing sections 173 of the disc gapmaintaining means 170 are composed of the planes having the sharpjunction, when the tip of the disc gap maintaining means 170 advancesbetween the two housed discs adjacent to the played disc in the verticaldirection, it can target a single point in the gap between the discs 1and 2 to provide margins for displacements occurring when the disc gapmaintaining means 170 is advancing. In addition, since the disc contactsurfaces are the smooth planes 173 a and 173 b, sliding loads on the endsurfaces of the discs 1 and 2 can be reduced to prevent the advancingsection from being caught on the end of the disc.

[0213] Next, the configuration of a covering means 190 that is rotatablysupported on the apparatus body 20 and that can cover at least a part ofthe opening 10 a formed due to the protrusion of the tray 23 to thesecond position will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 4, and 28to 33. The first position in the apparatus body 20 at which the disc canbe played corresponds to the disc playing position B, while the secondposition outside the apparatus body 20 at which the disc can be removedand changed corresponds to a disc removal and change position C at whichthe tray 23 protrudes out from the apparatus.

[0214] The covering means 190 has levers 191 that are rotatablysupported on the apparatus body 20 and that rotationally move inresponse to the movement of the tray 23. The lateral pair of levers 191are integrated with a lateral rotational-moving shaft 192 rotatablysupported on the apparatus body 20. The levers 191 have a pair ofprotruding portions 193 that are located approximately laterallysymmetrically around the center of the disc 1 or 2 placed on the tray 23and that are spaced at an interval smaller than the outer diameter ofthe small-diameter disc 2. The opposed ends of the protruding portions193 are each formed into a saw-teeth-shaped uneven surface 193 a.

[0215] Furthermore, a passive lever 194 is integrated with the other(left) end of rotational-moving shaft 192, and is also integrated with apassive cam 195 that faces rearward when the levers 191 and passivelever 194 are rotationally moved rearward to assume a horizontalposture.

[0216] A cam 22 d is formed on the other side of the tray base 22 and onthe bottom surface of the longitudinal middle of the base 22 to slideunder the passive cam 195 to stand and rotationally move it when thetray base 22 is moved in such a way as to protrude in the arrow Wdirection. This configuration allows the levers 191 to be rotationallymoved when the cam 22 d provided on the tray base 22 contacts and urgespart of the lever 191 for rotational movement as the tray 23 is allowedto protrude.

[0217] Moreover, a linear cam body 22 e is formed on the other side ofthe tray base 22 and on the bottom surface of the base 22 between itslongitudinal middle and its front end. The linear cam body 22 e isconfigured to abut on the stood and rotationally moved passive cam 195from the front to bring down and rotationally move the passive cam 195in the horizontal direction and to then sit above the horizontallybrought-down passive cam 195 to inhibit it from being deflected in thedirection in which it is stood and rotationally moved while the tray 23is moving.

[0218] The components 191 to 195 constitute an example of the coveringmeans 190. According to the covering means 190, when the tray 23 is atthe disc playing position B after moving in the arrow X directiontogether with the tray base 22, the passive lever 194 and the levers 191are brought down and rotationally moved rearward, as shown in FIGS. 28and 29.

[0219] In allowing the tray 23 to protrude from the disc playingposition B to the disc removal and change position C, the linear cambody 22 e is positioned above the horizontally brought-down passive cam195 to inhibit the passive lever 194 and the levers 191 from beingdeflected in the direction in which they are stood and rotationallymoved, as shown in FIG. 30.

[0220] Once this protruding movement has caused the tray 23 to protrudeand move to the disc removal and change position C, the cam 22 d on thetray base 22 slides under the passive cam 195 to stand and rotationallymove it based on the cam effect, as shown in FIGS. 31 to 33. Then, thestanding and rotational movement of the passive cam 195 causes thelateral pair of levers 191 to be integrally rotationally moved via therotating shaft 192 to stand both levers 191.

[0221] Thus, both sides (at least part) of the opening 10 a formed dueto the protrusion of the tray 23 to the disc removal and change positionC are covered by the protruding portions 193 integrated with both levers191. In this state, the disc 1 or 2 is manually removed from the tray 23at the disc removal and change position C or is changed. Subsequently,the tray 23 is moved in the arrow X direction together with the traybase 22, the linear cam body 22 e abuts on the stood and rotationallymoved passive cam 195 from the front to automatically bring down androtationally move the passive cam 195 in the horizontal direction,thereby returning the tray 23 to the disc playing position B as shown inFIGS. 28 and 29.

[0222] As described above, when the disc 1 or 2 is manually removed orchanged and if the small-diameter 2 is likely to accidentally falltoward the inside of the apparatus body 20 through the opening 10 aformed due to the opening of the tray 23, the end of the small-diameterdisc 2 is caught between the saw-teeth-shaped uneven surfaces 193 aformed on the pair of protruding portions 193 provided at an intervalsmaller than the outer diameter of the small-diameter disc 2, as shownby the imaginary lines in FIGS. 31 to 33, thereby preventing thesmall-diameter disc 2 from falling into the apparatus body 20.

[0223] In this case, since the small-diameter disc 2 is caught betweenthe saw-teeth-shaped uneven surfaces 193 a, it is also inhibited fromvertical movements to prevent its end from floating and passing beyondthe protruding portion 193. Thus, the disc is firmly caught between thesurfaces 193 a.

[0224] As described above, the rotational movement of the levers 191 areautomatically driven by the cam 22 d and linear cam body 22 e providedon the tray 23 in order to open or close the tray 23. Accordingly, evenif the disc 1 or 2 is pressed toward the interior of the apparatus body20 while contacting the levers 191, the levers 191 are precluded frombeing rotationally moved and brought down, thereby ensuring to preventthe disc 1 or 2 from falling into the apparatus body 20.

[0225] Next, the configuration of a detection means 180 partlyresponsible for control will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and16. The detection means 180 consists of a group of detection switchesprovided on a fixed substrate 181 integrated with the apparatus body 20and a group of operation cams provided on one 71 of the plates and thetray base 22. The group of detection switches provided on the fixedsubstrate 181 consist of an open switch 182, a first switch 183, and asecond switch 184 arranged in this order from front to rear.

[0226] In addition, one 71 of the plates has thereon a first operationcam 185 and a second operation cam 186 that simultaneously turn thefirst and second switches 183 and 184 on, a third operation cam 187 thatturns only the first switch 183 on, and a fourth operation cam 188 thatturns only the second switch 184 on. A fifth operation cam 189 isprovided on the tray base 22 to turn only the open switch 182 on, asshown in FIG. 3.

[0227] The components 181 to 189 constitute an example of the detectionmeans 180. According to the detection means 180, when one 71 of theplates moves to the playing position, the first and second operation cam185 and 186 simultaneously turn the first and second switches 183 and184 on to detect that the disc is to be played, based on the movement tothe playing position, in order to allow required control to be effected(see FIG. 16(A)). When one 71 of the plates moves to the changeposition, the third operation cam 187 turns only the first switch 183 onto detect that the disc is to be changed, based on the movement to thechange position, in order to allow required control to be effected (seeFIG. 16(B)).

[0228] Furthermore, when one 71 of the plates moves to the stockposition, the fourth operation cam 188 turns only the second switch 184on to detect that the disc is to be stocked, based on the movement tothe stock position, in order to allow required control to be effected(see FIG. 16(C)). In addition, when the tray base 22 protrudes to openthe tray, the fifth operation cam 189 turns only the open switch 182 onto detect that the tray is open, in order to allow required control tobe effected.

[0229] The operation of the disc changer 19 configured as describedabove and that is an example of the present embodiment will bedescribed.

[0230] The operation will be described with reference to the timingchart in FIG. 42. This figure describes timings for the driving of thedriving rack 103, one 71 of the plates (or the other plate 81), the camgear 92, the carrier 27, the tray base 22, the tray 23, the elevatingbase 42, the elevating stand 61, the first switch 183, the second switch184, and the open switch 182 and for the open state, the close state,the play state, the change state, the lower-spindle lowering state, thetray rear state, and the stock state.

[0231]FIGS. 1 and 4 show a state in which the horizontal-driving means100 has driven the tray base 22 and the tray 23 so as to protrude fromthe front panel 10 in the arrow W direction and in which the open switch182 has then caused the driving source 140 to be stopped.

[0232] In this state, after the large-diameter disc 1 (or thesmall-diameter disc 2) on the tray 23 has been changed (or supplied),the open and close key 13 is pressed to move the tray base 22 in thearrow X direction in order to transfer the small-diameter disc 1 to thedisc playing position B, as shown in FIGS. 34 and 36.

[0233] Then, the elevating means 70 elevates the recording/playingapparatus 62 to clamp the large-diameter disc 1 to enter the play state(see FIGS. 11A, 16A, and 35). In the meantime, the disc gap maintainingmeans 170 is rotationally moved to the disc housing position A tomaintain the intended gap. After the disc has been played, the open andclose key 13 is pressed again to move the tray base 22 in the arrow Wdirection in such a way as to protrude as shown in FIG. 1, therebyallowing the large-diameter disc 1 to be changed or removed from thetray 23.

[0234] In this case, the protruding portions 193 automatically coverboth sides of the opening 10 a, so if the large-diameter disc 1 islikely to accidentally fall toward the inside of the apparatus body 20through the opening 10 a, the end of the large-diameter disc 1 is caughtbetween the saw-teeth-shaped uneven surfaces 193 a formed in the pair ofprotruding portions 193 so as not to fall into the apparatus body 20.

[0235] After the disc play described above, to change the large-diameterdisc 1 on the tray 23 for the large-diameter disc 1 at the disc housingposition A, the corresponding one of the No. keys 12 is pressed. Then,the elevating means 70 descends to lower the recording/playing apparatus62 to open the clamper, and the lower spindle 41 lowers to form a gapbetween the upper and lower spindles 41 and 31, resulting in a state inwhich the lower spindle has lowered and in which the tray is located atthe front position (see FIGS. 11B and 36).

[0236] Subsequently, the horizontal-driving means 100 operates to movethe tray 23 in the arrow X direction relative to the tray base 22 toposition the large-diameter disc 1 in the gap between both spindles 31and 41 and to transfer the large-diameter disc 1 to a position at whichthe centers of the tray 23 and large-diameter disc 1 are aligned withthe centers of both spindles 31 and 41, resulting in a state in whichthe lower spindle has lowered and in which the tray is located at therear position (see FIGS. 12A and 37).

[0237] Then, the elevating means 70 elevates to lift the elevating base42 to allow the tray 23 to lift the large-diameter disc 1, resulting inthe stock state (see FIGS. 12B, 16C, and 38). Then, after the switchingmode, the disc holding means 30 is elevated via the gear train 151 by adistance corresponding to one pitch of the spacers, thereby allowing thelarge-diameter disc 1 to be held on the upper spindle 31 via the spacers38.

[0238] Then, the elevating means 70 descends to lower the elevating base42 to form a gap between both spindles 31 and 41, and thehorizontal-driving means 100 then operates to move the tray 23 in thearrow Y direction relative to the tray base 22. The tray 23 then returnsto the disc playing position B, resulting in the state in which thelower spindle has lowered and in which the tray is located at the frontposition (see FIGS. 11B and 36).

[0239] Then, the elevating means 70 elevates to lift the elevating base42 to connect both spindles 31 and 41, and the change state is thenentered (see FIGS. 13, 16B, 26, and 39). Then, after the switching mode,the disc holding means 30 is rotationally driven via the gear train 151to move the spacers 38 between both spindles 31 and 41 up to a positionat which the target large-diameter disc 1 can be held at the bottom ofthe upper spindle 31.

[0240] Then, the elevating means 70 descends to lower the elevating base42 to form a gap between both spindles 31 and 41, and thehorizontal-driving means 100 then operates to move the tray 23 in thearrow X direction relative to the tray base 22, thereby positioning theempty tray 23 in the gap between both spindles 31 and 41 (the state inwhich the lower spindle has lowered and in which the tray is located atthe rear position).

[0241] Then, the elevating means 70 elevates to lift the elevating base42 to connect both spindles 31 and 41, thereby entering the stock stateagain (see FIGS. 12B, 16C, and 38). Then, after the switching mode, thedisc holding means 30 is lowered via the gear train 151 to pass onto thetray 23 the target large-diameter disc 1 held on the upper spindle 31.

[0242] Then, the elevating means 70 descends to lower the elevating base42 to form a gap between both spindles 31 and 41, and thehorizontal-driving means 100 then operates to move the tray 23 in thearrow W direction relative to the tray base 22 in order to position thelarge-diameter disc 1 on the tray 23, at the disc playing position B(the state in which the lower spindle has lowered and in which the trayis located at the front position). Then the above play state is entered(see FIGS. 11A, 16A, 27, and 35).

[0243] In this manner, by driving the positions of the plurality ofspacers 38 and the plurality of large-diameter discs 1 installed on bothspindles 31 and 41 in the vertical direction, any large-diameter disc 1can be shifted from the position on both spindles 31 and 41 to the discplaying position B, then to the removal position, and back to the dischousing position A on both spindles 31 and 41, and any large-diameterdisc 1 can be selected for recording/playing. This configurationeliminates the needs for a stocker having a plurality of shelves or aplurality of subtrays, thereby reducing the weight and costs of theapparatus and providing a disc changer having excellent housing andoperating capabilities.

[0244] During the above operations, of the modes shown in FIG. 41, aplurality of modes are executed.

[0245] In the disc changer that operates as described and that is anembodiment of this invention, its state during the disc change operationchanges as shown below.

[0246] (1) Horizontal movement in the X direction (=driving of theelevating means+driving of the disc transfer means)

[0247] “play state”→(change state: pass)→(spindle open and trayfront)→(spindle open and tray rear)→“stock state”. . . . The horizontaldriving is switched to the spacer vertical driving.

[0248] (2) Vertical driving in the stock state

[0249] One pitch elevation . . . . This operation causes the disc on thetray to be transferred onto the spacer. After the elevation by onepitch, the vertical driving is switched to the horizontal driving again.

[0250] (3) Horizontal driving in the W direction

[0251] “Stock state”→(spindle open and tray rear)→(spindle open and trayfront)→“change state” . . . . The horizontal driving is switched to thespacer vertical driving again.

[0252] (4) Vertical driving in the change state

[0253] Elevation or lowering to a predetermined position . . . . Thenext disc to play is moved to a position at which it can be held at thebottom of the upper spindle. After the movement of the spacers, thevertical driving is switched to the horizontal driving again.

[0254] (5) Horizontal driving in the X direction “change state”→(spindleopen and tray front) (spindle open and tray rear)→“stock state” . . . .The horizontal driving is switched to the spacer vertical driving again.

[0255] (6) Vertical driving in the stock state

[0256] One pitch lowering . . . . This operation causes the disc on thespacer to be transferred onto the tray. After the lowering by one pitch,the vertical driving is switched to the horizontal driving again.

[0257] (7) Horizontal driving in the W direction

[0258] “Stock state”→(spindle open and tray rear)→(spindle open and trayfront)→“change state: pass”→“play state” . . . . The disc changeoperation is finished.

[0259] Although the above operations correspond to a procedure forautomatically changing the disc being played for another disc housed inthe spindles, the keys can be operated to perform various operationssuch as open, play, and open; and open, selection from housed discs, andplay or open.

[0260] Although the disc changer that operates as described above andthat is an embodiment of this invention has been described inconjunction with the large-diameter disc 1, it is also applicable to thesmall-diameter disc 2 or a mixture of the large- and small-diameterdiscs 1 and 2.

What is claimed is:
 1. A disc changer that houses a plurality of discsand that selects an arbitrary one from the plurality of housed discs forrecording/playing, the disc changer comprising: an apparatus body; disctransfer means for transferring a disc in the apparatus body between adisc housing position and a disc playing position; a vertical pair ofspindles detachably holding a plurality of spacers at said disc housingposition; disc holding means capable of relatively elevating andlowering said spindles and driving said spacers in the verticaldirection to deliver the disc to said disc transfer means; disc playingmeans supported on said apparatus body at said disc playing position soas to be able to elevate and lower; elevating means for elevating andlowering said spindles and said disc playing means; andhorizontal-driving means capable of driving said disc transfer means andsaid elevating means, said elevating means being configured so that asingle part simultaneously effects the driving of said spindles and saiddisc playing means.
 2. A disc changer according to claim 1 , whereinsaid elevating means includes a lateral pair of plates each having a camgroove that engages with a pin slidably supported on said apparatus bodyand provided on said disc playing means or a pin provided on anelevating base of said spindles, and connection levers rotatablysupported on said apparatus body and connecting said lateral pair ofplates together.
 3. A disc changer according to claim 2 , wherein saidelevating means includes a cam gear having a cam groove that engageswith the pin provided on said disc playing means or the pin provided onthe elevating base of said spindles, the cam gear being connected tosaid plates via a gear train and rotating in response to the movement ofsaid plates.
 4. A disc changer that houses a plurality of discs and thatselects an arbitrary one from the plurality of housed discs forrecording/playing, the disc changer comprising: an apparatus body; disctransfer means for transferring a disc in the apparatus body between adisc housing position and a disc playing position; a vertical pair ofspindles detachably holding a plurality of spacers at said disc housingposition; disc holding means capable of relatively elevating andlowering said spindles and driving said spacers in the verticaldirection to deliver the disc to said disc transfer means; disc playingmeans supported on said apparatus body at said disc playing position soas to be able to elevate and lower; elevating means for elevating andlowering said spindles and said disc playing means; andhorizontal-driving means capable of driving said disc transfer means andsaid elevating means, said horizontal driving means comprising a drivinggear connected to a driving source via a speed reduction mechanism, adriving rack meshing with said driving gear, and a speed-increasing gearrotatably supported on said driving rack, said speed-increasing gearbeing a double-gear unit comprising a larger and a smaller gears havingthe same number of teeth and different modules, and said smaller gear ofthe double-gear unit meshing with a rack provided in said elevatingmeans, while said larger gear of the double-gear unit meshing with arack provided in the disc transfer means.
 5. A disc changer that housesa plurality of discs and that selects an arbitrary one from theplurality of housed discs for recording/playing, the disc changercomprising: an apparatus body; disc transfer means for transferring adisc in the apparatus body between a disc housing position and a discplaying position; a vertical pair of spindles detachably holding aplurality of spacers at said disc housing position; disc holding meanscapable of relatively elevating and lowering said spindles and drivingsaid spacers in the vertical direction to deliver the disc to said disctransfer means; disc playing means supported on said apparatus body atsaid disc playing position so as to be able to elevate and lower;elevating means for elevating and lowering said spindles and said discplaying means; horizontal-driving means capable of driving said disctransfer means and said elevating means; a switching gear connected tothe driving source via the speed reduction mechanism and supported so asto slide in the axial direction and that can mesh with either a geartrain provided in said horizontal driving means or a gear train providedin said vertical driving system for said spacers; and drive-switchingmeans for allowing said switching gear to slide in the axial direction,said disc changer further having a switching mode that includes at leastthe rotational driving, stop, and reverse driving of the switching gearand that is available during the sliding of said switching gear effectedby said drive-switching means.
 6. A disc changer according to claim 5 ,wherein at least a part of said speed reduction mechanism comprises areduction section comprising an elastic belt.
 7. A disc changeraccording to claim 5 , wherein said switching mode starts with rotationsin the direction opposite to the rotational direction of said drivingsource existing immediately before the start of switching.
 8. A discchanger that houses a plurality of discs and that selects an arbitraryone from the plurality of housed discs for recording/playing, the discchanger comprising: an apparatus body; disc transfer means fortransferring a disc in the apparatus body between a disc housingposition and a disc playing position; a vertical pair of spindlesdetachably holding a plurality of spacers at said disc housing position;disc holding means capable of relatively elevating and lowering saidspindles and driving said spacers in the vertical direction to deliverthe disc to said disc transfer means; disc playing means supported onsaid apparatus body at said disc playing position so as to be able toelevate and lower; elevating means for elevating and lowering saidspindles and said disc playing means; and disc gap maintaining meansthat can advance between housed discs adjacent to a played disc in thevertical direction.
 9. A disc changer according to claim 8 , wherein thedistance between the center of the disc housed at said disc housingposition and the center of the disc played at said disc playing positionis larger then 100 mm and smaller than 120 mm.
 10. A disc changeraccording to claim 8 , wherein said disc gap maintaining means haslevers rotatably supported on the elevating base of said spindles.
 11. Adisc changer according to claim 8 , wherein said disc gap maintainingmeans is driven by said elevating means.
 12. A disc changer according toclaim 8 , wherein said disc gap maintaining means is provided betweensaid disc playing position and said disc housing position.
 13. A discchanger according to claim 8 , wherein sections of said disc gapmaintaining means that advance between adjacent discs are provided attwo positions that are approximately symmetrical about a centerlinecommon to a played disc and housed discs.
 14. A disc changer accordingto claim 8 , wherein the sections of said disc gap maintaining meansthat advance between adjacent discs comprise two smooth planes having asharp junction and that can contact the respective end surfaces of anupper and a lower discs.
 15. A disc changer comprising: an apparatusbody; disc playing means supported on said apparatus body at a discplaying position so as to be able to elevate and lower; an elevatingmeans for elevating and lowering said disc playing means; andhorizontally maintaining means for regulating the elevating and loweringpostures of said disc playing means, said elevating means comprising alateral pair of plates supported so as to slide relative to saidapparatus body, and a connecting lever rotatably supported on saidapparatus body to connect said lateral pair of plates together, saidhorizontality maintaining means comprising a rotating shaft extending inparallel with the sliding direction of said plate and rotatablysupported on said apparatus body, a horizontality maintaining lever thatcan rotate with said rotating shaft, and an engaging section provided onsaid horizontality maintaining lever and parallel with said rotatingshaft, and said engaging section slidably engaging with an engaginggroove provided in said disc playing means to rotationally move aroundthe axis of the rotating shaft during the elevation and lowering of saiddisc playing means.
 16. A disc changer according to claim 15 , whereinsaid disc playing means is elevated and lowered by engaging a lateralpair of pins provided on said disc playing means with a lateral pair ofcam grooves provided in said elevating means.
 17. A disc changercomprising: an apparatus body; a tray that can move between a firstposition in the apparatus body at which the disc can be played and asecond position at which the tray protrudes from the apparatus body sothat the disc can be changed; and covering means rotatably supported onsaid apparatus body to cover at least a part of an opening formed due tothe protrusion of said tray to said second position, said covering meanshaving levers rotationally moving in response to the movement of saidtray and having a pair of protruding portions located at positionsapproximately laterally symmetrical around the center of the disc on thetray and provided at an interval smaller than the outer diameter of asmall-diameter disc, the opposite ends of the protruding portions eachhaving an uneven surface formed like saw teeth.
 18. A disc changeraccording to claim 17 , wherein said lever is rotationally moved whenthe cam provided on said tray contacts and urges a part of said lever assaid tray protrudes.